Cardinal Manning had the vision to expand Catholic education in London but distrusted the Jesuits, who had already successfully established schools in Northern England.

He acquired a plot of land in North Kensington for St Charles College for Boys, a boarding which had been founded by the Oblates of St Charles Borromeo (see Ambrosians) in 1863, and it relocated there in 1874.

The short-lived Kensington University College, also founded by Manning, was merged into the school as its "higher department".

The training college was evacuated to Dorchester following the outbreak of World War II.

[10] In September 2018, the school open as All Saints Catholic College with a new year 7 group of 150 students.